SEATTLE - Five Huskies will race in the Canadian men's 8+ at the upcoming World Championships in New Zealand, Rowing Canada announced on Thursday.

The selection will encompass several generations of Huskies, from the elder statesman Dave Calder - class of 2001 at Washington - to Anthony Jacob and Conlin McCabe, who currently compete for the UW as a senior and a junior respectively. In addition, Rob Gibson and Will Crothers will also race for Canada.

"I'm thrilled that we'll have three generations of Huskies representing our program at the World Championships," said men's coach Michael Callahan. "I have nothing but respect for (national coach) Mike Spracklen and the rest of his staff. We share a lot of the same ideas and philosophies, so it's no secret the kids who row here are prepared for international racing."

It's a coup for Washington, which has a long history and a dedicated philosophy of sending rowers on to compete for their countries at the international level. What makes the feat even more impressive is that Huskies will be representing Canada at the World Championships. They'll race against the best crews the rest of the world has to offer at Lake Karapiro in October. Those Huskies who are headed back to Seattle will have the international seasoning few other programs can match.

"There was never any doubt in my mind that when I came to Washington to be a student-athlete that they would help me reach my full athletic potential," said McCabe in an email. "And so far the training that I have done in Seattle set by Callahan has helped me improve by leaps and bounds."

Both Crothers and Gibson helped Callahan helped win a Gold Medal at the 2009 IRAs on Lake Natoma in California, and helped spur the renaissance of the Husky program, beginning in Bob Ernst's final season coaching the men in 2007. Jacob and McCabe raced in the varsity 8+ that won a Silver Medal this past summer at the IRA Championships.

There are several reasons the two programs have enjoyed mutual success. With Rowing Canada headquartered in Victoria, B.C., it's served as the unofficial home away from home for Huskies competing under the Maple Leaf. Meanwhile, Callahan bases a lot of his training philosophies - such as weight training - on what Spracklen has implemented.

"It's great to see the rowers who helped get this program to where it is today making the next step," Callahan said. "They're really growing into their potential as athletes."